to think it over and consider it carefully. I propose to answer Stalin: "Your proposal concerning an offensive against the Crimea is so serious that we must inform ourselves and deliberate with the utmost caution. Await our response. Lenin. Trotsky"*.

In 1960 in the book "History of the Civil

from a typewritten copy

Written June 3, 1920

First published incompletely

War in the USSR. 1917-1922," vol. 5

Published in full for the first time,